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"I thought so too," I said "You got off easy" I detangledto rub some of his usual life back into him "I was impressed with your waiter skills I had no idea you were so highly trained You never pull out all these stops when I co to do all that shit for you guys," he et back to another table, and y’all aren’t going to tipback to the last time Sawyer had waited on me when I’d paid for my food o exactly, and I could have sworn I’d tipped him fifteen percent

"Not when Aidan pays, you don’t"

My hand stopped on his araped at him "Really?" I was horrified I’d had no idea Aidan was that rude to anyone but me And Sawyer needed the money, now hts, I could tell he was blushing

I took both his hands in al responsibility to take care of you until you turn eighteen"

"Yeah, well, I’hteen until March fifteenth, Sawyer"

He raised his eyebrows "Why do you knohen my birthday is?"

"I just do" I didn’t let on that I’d surprised enerally when most of my friends’ birthdays were, as in, what month I’d memorized specific days for Tia, Harper, Aidan, and Sawyer

"That’s a long tio without a real place to live," I said "Did your dad kick you out, or did you just leave?"

"I left," he said darkly

"Why?"

"I don’t want to talk about it," he said so vehemently that, nosey as I was, I didn’t dare try to turn over that rock again

Instead I said, "You should talk to someone One of the counselors at school"

"No! Guys don’t do that"

"Not the weird counselor with the muttonchop sideburns," I said quickly "The nice one, Ms Malone Go in and tell her whatever you don’t want to tellball of stress" I reached up and rubbed his shoulders, kneading the soft notches next to his shoulder blades Sure enough, the hter than o Monday"

He let out an appreciative sigh and let his head fall forward so that soroaned, "No"

Leaving"Promise me, and there’s more where this came from"

"Okay," he said instantly

I o "I have soh, and you need to go back to work Our table from hell isn’t your only table"